In our home, Sunday night is pizza night! It’s one of my and my son’s favorite traditions. I start on the pizza dough, he chooses a movie, and then we have a ball throwing on our favorite toppings and waiting for all that doughy, cheesy, bubbly goodness to come out of the oven! The other night, he invited some friends over to join us. Suddenly, I got an idea! Why not turn pizza into finger food? Let me tell you, the rolled version was just as delicious and satisfying as the traditional! In fact, they were so popular, that I had to whip up another batch! These guys will be a certified hit! And to make them more delicious, I also brushed them with melted butter perfectly seasoned with garlic and Italian Seasoning. It’s like a party in your mouth!
Recipe Ingredients
These lovely handheld snacks are as good as your favorite pizza but a lot more fun to eat! And you should definitely try them with dip for an added delightful snacking experience. Oh yes! Our recipe here is very straightforward yet jam-packed:
Pizza Dough – Your pizza dough determines the taste and quality of your pizza. So I highly suggest using my homemade pizza dough recipe here. You really won’t regret it. However, if you want a shortcut, store-bought pizza or crescent dough will do the trick.Pizza Sauce – Nothing beats making your own pizza sauce because you can customize it according to your palate. Italian Sausage and Pepperoni – My pizza wouldn’t be complete without these two shining stars. I just love their smoky and savory flavors with a little kick of heat. Other meat delis, like salami, chorizo, bacon, and ham, are also fantastic additions. Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese – Need I say more? Pizza can actually stand alone with just cheese as the toppings. I also love to add cheddar and provolone because I believe there’s always room for more CHEESE! 😋Fresh Basil – This aromatic gives the perfect harmony to the overall deliciousness of our pizza. And if you’re a fan of herbs, you’ll love these pizza rolls sprinkled with Italian Seasoning as well.Pepper Flakes – You can’t go wrong with pepper flakes. It has the perfect amount of spiciness that is not too overpowering. 😉
Optional
Butter – The perfectly seasoned butter definitely adds a sensational buttery flavor to our handheld treats. And if you’d like a healthier option, olive oil also works.Garlic Powder – I opted for garlic powder because it’s easier to work with. Since it’s powder, it’s much easier to blend it with butter, and the garlicky taste is evenly distributed. Plus, it’s an excellent way for the kids to enjoy the garlicky flavor without actually being overwhelmed with tiny bits of minced garlic.Italian Seasoning – It’s a blend of herbs and spices that will surely give amazing flavors to our reconstructed pizza.
How to Make Pizza Rolls
Add the Pizza Toppings
Preheat the oven to 400℉/205℃.Line and Grease – Line the baking or cookie sheet with parchment or foil paper. Lightly grease and set it aside.Prepare the Dough and Add the Filling – Roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle about 10 “x14”. Add marinara or this homemade pizza sauce followed by toppings: sausage, pepperoni, cheeses, and fresh basil. (Photos 1-2)
Roll and Slice
Roll and Seal – Starting with the end nearest you, roll the dough up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam side down. Do not forget to pinch the seal, so the rolls don’t fall apart when baking. (Photos 3-4)Slice the Pizza Log – Slice with a knife or pizza cutter into 1-inch pieces. Place rolls on prepared sheets. (Photo 5-6)
Brush with Seasoned Butter
Combine, Mix, and Brush – Combine melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian Seasoning in a small bowl. Quickly brush over rolls. (Photos 7-8))Bake and Sprinkle – Bake rolls for about 15 minutes or until lightly brown, and rolls are cooked through. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese and pepper flakes if desired; this is purely optional but oh so delicious.Serve and Enjoy – Serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
These pizza rolls are easily customizable with your favorite toppings; oh, I meant fillings. And since it’s homemade, let’s make the best out of it. The options are endless! So, whether you like it all meat or vegetarian, with red or white sauce, sweet or spicy, Hawaiian or New York Style, feel free to create your own version of these yummy pizza rolls. Aside from the ingredients list, you may also add:
Tips and Tricks
Resist adding too much filling, cheese, and sauce because it’ll be hard to roll our dough if there’s too much stuff inside. Plus, it’ll be a mess if the filling starts to leak. Yikes!Don’t forget to seal the edge after rolling the dough, so it won’t burst open while cutting.Aside from brushing seasoned melted butter on top, you can add more shredded cheese such as mozzarella, cheddar, or provolone for an extra gooey cheesy finish.Add a dash of sugar to your pizza sauce to cut the acidity and make it even more kid-friendly.You can also cook these homemade pizza rolls in the air fryer. Set the temperature to 380℉/194℃ and cook them for 6-8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.No pizza dough available? Replace pizza dough with an egg roll wrapper for a quick swap. Enjoy them deep-fried or air-fried. 😉
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can make the pizza dough three or four days ahead and keep it in an airtight container. Let it come to room temperature before making the rolls. Honestly, the dough turns out even better. You can also make the sauce two or three days ahead and the flavor will improve. You can freeze both for two months. You can also make them, let them rise, then freeze them.
Serving and Storage Instructions
I always make a big batch of these pizza rolls and freeze them. So when late-night cravings hit, I just pop them in the oven, and they’re ready in no time. No need to thaw; it’s so simple and easy! They make great emergency snacks whenever family and friends come over for a surprise visit, too. Storing Leftover Baked Pizza Rolls Reheating Pizza Rolls
Delicious Dips to Accompany Pizza Rolls
Since we can’t put too much sauce on our pizza rolls, why don’t you just dip them instead? And I have the perfect dip and sauce recipes to recommend. 😉
More Tasty Appetizer Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Talk about a super way to make delicious pizza rolls! What are your favorite toppings? Please let me know in the comments. ❤️ This blog post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated with additional tips.
